Michigan coach John Beilein smiles during the second half of the Wolverines' 79-70 win over Michigan State at Crisler Center on Sunday.Courtney Sacco | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR -- John Beilein says he gets a good chuckle out of outside responses to wins and losses.

“I laugh when people say ‘ups and downs’ and things like that,” the Michigan coach said on Monday’s Big Ten teleconference.

There was nothing funny about the Wolverines’ three losses in five games prior to Sunday, though. Michigan didn’t just lose to Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin in a 14-days span; it was knocked around by all three. The losses came by an average of 14.0 points.

Then came Sunday. Michigan decked rival Michigan in a 79-70 victory at Crisler Center, outscoring the Spartans 68-49 over the game’s final 30 minutes, 50 seconds.

The close game turned into closed party.

For Michigan, the win not only represented sole possession of first place in the Big Ten, but a confidence boost for a team that needed some good late-season vibes.

“It is good because you’re only really as good, it seems, as your last game,” Beilein said. “That’s not the truth, but that’s really the perception many times.”

Now 19-7 overall and leading Michigan State by a half-game in the Big Ten standings at 11-3, No. 16 Michigan faces a generous closing schedule ahead, by Big Ten standards, at least.

The Wolverines play at Purdue (15-12, 5-9) on Wednesday (7 p.m., TV: BTN) and host Minnesota (17-11, 6-9) on Saturday. The following week features a road trip to Illinois and a season-closing home game against Indiana.

Now 3-3 over the last six games, Beilein said he wants Michigan to move forward as it would if it were coming off a loss.

“You still have to have that mentality,” Beilein said. “(Michigan hockey coach) Red Berenson has a great quote: ‘You have to practice like you’re in second place and play like you’re a champion.’ That’s the mentality that we still have to have, but it beats the alternative of losing to anyone, let alone Michigan State at home.”

It even beats a good laugh.

"They’re not ups and downs," Beilein said. "It’s all part of the process. Sometimes the downs will be really what you need to go forward."

Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com